Answer: The kid stopped looking for the dog.
Miss Lippy read this book to Billy's first grade class. When she was finished reading, Billy objected angrily to the book, saying that the kid was irresponsible to look for an hour and give up, and that, "He didn't put posters up or anything, he just sat on the porch like a goon and waited!" In Billy's opinion, which he stated in language far too strong for a first grade class, a dog owner has a responsibility to get out there and find that dog at all costs.